Community interns Seth Schroerlucke and Nichole Steward prepare a log to grow organic shitake mushrooms.

2008 Community of Christ International Peace Award Recipient Announced

The First Presidency is pleased to announce that the Koinonia community is the recipient of the 2008 Community of Christ International Peace Award. The Peace Award, begun in 1993 (see www.CofChrist.org/peaceaward/honorroll.asp for the honor roll), will be given this year at 7:15 p.m., Friday October 3, 2008, in the Auditorium, Independence, Missouri, at the 15th annual Peace Colloquy. Bren Dubay (director) and Norris Harris (chaplain) will receive the award on behalf of the Koinonia community. The award ceremony is free and open to all.

The word koinonia is ancient Greek for “loving fellowship/community” and is used 19 times in the New Testament, including in Acts 2:42–47, which describes in a striking way the common life of the early Jerusalem church. Koinonia, as an intentional Christian farm community, began in 1942 and was inspired by the description of the early church in the Acts of the Apostles. It was founded by Clarence and Florence Jordan and Martin and Mabel England in Americus, Georgia. Clarence Jordan had a degree in agriculture and a Ph.D. in New Testament Greek and went on to write The Cotton Patch Gospel while farming. Jordan’s colloquial translation of much of the New Testament also served as the basis of a Broadway musical.

Koinonia began as an experiment in Christian living, with a mission to be good neighbors with African-American sharecroppers and tenant farmers and to provide, in their shared life, an alternative to militarism, materialism, and racism. They envisioned an interracial community where blacks and whites could live and work together in a spirit of partnership. In the racist, segregated USA South of the 1950s and ’60s, this practical witness was unwelcome, and bombs, bullets, sabotage, and a boycott seriously threatened the community, but it survived.

Koinonia became the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity through a house-building ministry begun there. It was led initially by Millard and Linda Fuller (1969–1973), who then went to Africa to lead a similar project in 1976. The Fullers returned and founded Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Georgia. Habitat is now a worldwide housing ministry with affiliates in every state in the United States and in more than 50 countries. Other ministries and communities begun at Koinonia include Jubilee Partners, Prison Jail Project, and the Fuller Center for Housing.

Visiting SOOPers (members of the Mennonite program Service Opportunities for Older People) Ruth Ann Swartzendruber and MariAn Nyce consult the recipe while mixing a batch of oat-nut granola in the bakery.

There have been ups and downs over the years. Community living is never easy. During the mid-1990s, Koinonia moved away from its original purpose of communal living and witness. Some believed Koinonia’s primary purpose should be to offer jobs in a region with much unemployment. Thus, the common life was set aside in favor of putting all members on a salary and hiring an executive director to make decisions. But abandoning Koinonia’s roots did not work. There were no bombs, bullets, or boycotts, but many would say it was a far more dangerous time. Spiritually and financially challenged, Koinonia’s existence hung in the balance once more, but God remained faithful, and those who were still inspired by the original vision began working for renewal.

In 2005, Koinonia recommitted itself to the original vision and to continue rebuilding. There are now 26 adult community members and nine children, with more exploring the life as interns and apprentices. All community members, along with visitors, share a life of prayer, work, study, service, and fellowship. Koinonia is an example of an intentional Christian community losing its way and then finding renewal again.

Farming is still the basis of Koinonia’s economic life, especially the selling of pecan nuts from their large orchards through a mail order business that also includes chocolate, peanuts, granola, Fair Trade coffee and chocolate, wood-crafted items, ceramics, art, books, CDs, and DVDs. Donations are entirely used to support their many outreach, social, and peace and justice ministries. More details about Koinonia’s life and ministries can be found at www.koinoniapartners.org.

The mission of Koinonia today is stated as follows:

We are Christians called to live together in intentional community sharing a life of prayer, work, study, service and fellowship. We seek to embody peacemaking, sustainability, and radical sharing. While honoring people of all backgrounds and faiths, we strive to demonstrate the way of Jesus as an alternative to materialism, militarism and racism.

Koinonia’s vision is:

Love—through service to others
Peace—through reconciliation
Joy—through generous hospitality

Brendan Prendergast raising baby chickens in the organic tractor.

Last year Koinonia celebrated its 65th anniversary. Koinonia receives this year’s peace award as an outstanding example of a “signal community of justice and peace that reflects the vision of Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:5a, adapted). Clarence Jordan did not use the phrase “signal community,” but that is what he meant when he said that Koinonia was to be a practical “demonstration plot for the kingdom.”

This year’s Peace Colloquy, October 3–5, will be opened by presenting the 2008 Community of Christ Peace Award to Bren Dubay and Norris Harris on behalf of Koinonia. They will then give an address, “The Story of Koinonia,” which will introduce the theme of the colloquy: “Signal Communities: Hope of Zion.” You are invited to join 150 church leaders from around the world to learn more about “signal communities” through

• Friday prayer retreat

• Three keynotes

• 25 workshops, including priesthood training

• Youth Track

• “Songs of the Kingdom” concert

• Council of Twelve presentation

• Closing sermon by President Steve Veazey

More information about the Peace Colloquy, including online registration, is available at www.CofChrist.org/peacecolloquy. A Peace Colloquy mailing to pastors in the USA and Canada will be sent out in late April or early May. For questions or to receive a copy of the brochure, contact Jeanette Hicks, Peace Colloquy co-director at 1-800-825-2806, ext. 2224. Cost for adults, $80; students/youth, $20. Early-bird registration is by September 5; after that date, add $10.

—Andrew Bolton reporting
May 2008 Herald